Bristol motorhome community under threat to move
What not to do during your campervan hire
Efforts are under way to relocate one of the UK’s largest van-dwelling communities, currently camped around Durdham Down in Bristol, due to increasing tensions with nearby residents.
According to the BBC, the motorhome dwelling community based at this location is due to be moved as quickly as it can.
With over 60 motorhomes, vans and caravans parked in the area, many people have turned to van life because they simply can’t afford Bristol’s soaring rent prices. But locals in Clifton have raised concerns over rubbish and human waste left at what’s meant to be a scenic spot.
Van living is on the rise across the city, with numbers jumping from around 150 in 2020 to 680 in 2025, as the cost of living continues to bite.
Motorhome full time living has become much more popular in recent years. In the UK, while precise figures are limited, there has been a notable increase in motorhome and campervan ownership. In 2021, it was estimated that approximately 225,000 campervans and motorhomes were on UK roads, with around 4,000 new units sold annually . Projections suggest that ownership of leisure vehicles, including motorhomes and campervans, is expected to grow by over 40% by 2030 .
In response, Bristol City Council has put forward a plan to create a permanent site elsewhere in the city for van-dwellers — a move that could be the first of its kind in the UK.
One resident of the Downs, 60-year-old Dave Knight, said he moved into an old removal van four years ago when work dried up and he could no longer afford his house in Dursley.
Jane, another person living in a van, said finances pushed her into the lifestyle. “I’ve spent over £100,000 on rent and bills over the years — just paying someone else’s mortgage,” she said. “All it did was get me deeper into debt.”
A builder who asked not to be named said he lives in a £500 caravan after being refused council housing. “I work all the time building homes I can’t even afford to live in,” he told the BBC.
The council are trying to help....
The council has acknowledged the growing demand for alternative housing and wants to lead the way in tackling the issue nationally.
“We’re trying to find long-term answers to a problem affecting cities across the UK,” said Councillor Barry Parsons. “Many people living in vans are vulnerable, with mental health or other needs, and that’s why we’re increasing our outreach and support.”
Do you live in a motorhome or caravan full time? Some people find the experience life changing. Some people make the move deliberately from living in a house or a flat for example to living in a moving home. Personally, I believe building a permanent site in which people who chose or have to live in motorhomes is a great idea. As long as it is policed and respected.
Experience living in a motorhome with Luna Motorhome Hire. Whether it be for a week or 90 days, you can book motorhome hire with Luna Motorhome Hire today!
